Starke County Highway Department crews are continuing efforts to make county roadways safer for drivers.
Highway Superintendent Rik Ritzler said the installation of reflective post enhancers is ongoing.
“We’ve put the reflectors on the stop signs and they’ve worked very well,” said Ritzler. “We’re doing that throughout the county and we’re about a fifth of the way done. There is still a lot to go with that.” Continue reading
The Starke County Highway Department is continuing an effort to conduct traffic studies in order to collect data for a proposed U.S. 30 freeway that will travel through northern Starke County.
A coalition is putting together suggestions to present to INDOT that would include benefits to Starke County in a U.S. 30 freeway proposal between Valparaiso and Fort Wayne. In that stretch, the only way to get across U.S. 30 would be with an overpass, and the only way to get on will be at an interchange. Continue reading
The Starke County Commissioners remain concerned about the number of transfers by Starke County EMS personnel.
EMS Director Travis Clary reported to the commissioners on Oct. 2 that the percentage of transfers dropped from 35 or 25 percent to 10 percent in September.
Clerk Mary Lynn Ritchie said the number of transfers were down to seven percent in October. Continue reading
The Starke County Commissioners considered a request from Matthew J. Foster to fly an American Flag at the Starke County Courthouse at the war memorial on Veteran’s Day, Nov. 11, and retire that flag the next day to give to a Starke County soldier.
Foster plans to give it to E7 Sergeant First Class Ronald James Lardino II. Sergeant Lardino is a Knox native and has spent the past 17.5 years in the U.S. Army. His service includes two combat tours in Iraq and one tour in Kuwait. He is currently stationed in Georgia. Continue reading
Culver town officials, county representatives, Housing Developer Kevin Berger, and other dignitaries helped break ground on the Sand Hill Farm workforce housing development in Culver Wednesday afternoon.
The housing development includes 24 apartments that will feature affordable one, two and three bedroom units at 540 W. Jefferson Street with hopes of the project complete in 2018. Elkay, one of Culver’s largest employers, will provide the cabinetry for the units in an extensive project partnership. Continue reading
A newborn baby was found in the Safe Haven Baby Box in La Porte County.
According to La Porte police, emergency responders responded to the baby box alarm at the Coolspring Township Volunteer Fire Department on Tuesday night. Police say Fire Chief Mick Pawlik was the first to arrive at the station and found the newborn baby. An ambulance was summoned and the infant was rushed to Franciscan St. Anthony’s Hospital in Michigan City. Continue reading
The Starke County Commissioners reviewed a proposal from the Skillman Corporation for plans for a new elevator at the courthouse.
The construction manager’s fee was set at $12,750 while another $32,250 was approved for other construction manager and general condition fees.
The construction of the elevator is expected to begin in spring 2018 and take three or four months to complete.
The Town of Culver’s Stellarbration event is set for today at the Culver Beach Lodge. The town was named a Stellar Community in the state’s Stellar Communities Designation Program on Oct. 18 after two years of hard work to achieve the status.
Prior to this event, officials will conduct a groundbreaking ceremony on the Sand Hill Farms workforce housing development which is a project detailed in the Stellar Communities application. Construction of this structure will provide housing for those seeking one, two or three bedroom apartments who want to make Culver their home. The project helps complete goals of increasing housing and population, plus an increase in enrollment and economy in Culver. Continue reading
Starke County Highway Department crews will be working with a new product to include with the cold asphalt mix.
Highway Superintendent Rik Ritzler explained to the county commissioners Monday night that they have been chosen by a vendor to use an additive to the cold mix asphalt that could help it cure quicker and provide a product that would last longer. Ritzler said the vendor has adapted a hot mix version of this additive to work with cold mix. Continue reading
Starke County Attorney Marty Lucas presented the commissioners with a proposed ordinance that would authorize and regulate the use of Recreational Utility Task Vehicles (UTVs or side-by-sides) and Off-Road Vehicles (ORVs) on certain county roads and highways.
The Starke County highway superintendent has the authority to restrict the passage of these vehicles on certain roads at his discretion for safety purposes. Proper signage will be displayed. Continue reading
West Central Middle-High School Principal Pat Culp recently reminded the school board members that a presentation on body safety is set for next week.
Superintendent Don Street invites parents to attend Tuesday’s program. Continue reading
The Knox Redskin Brigade wrapped up their marching season at the Indiana State School Music Association’s state marching band finals at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.
The band performed their PI 3.14 program in Open Class C and finished in the 10th spot.
The Starke County Commissioners will meet tonight where an ordinance regarding off-road vehicles will be considered on first reading.
Now that the county was awarded a grant to update the courthouse elevator, the commissioners will review a proposal from the Skillman Corporation to move forward with the project. Continue reading
The West Central School Board last week approved the classified employee salary and benefits for the school year.
Superintendent Don Street said the board approved the teacher contracts at the last meeting, but discussed teacher salaries on Thursday night. Continue reading
Daylight Saving Time ends tomorrow at 2 a.m. local time. Clocks will need to turn back one hour at that time or before you go to bed tonight.
Manual clocks will need to be turned back while some digital devices may have a feature that will observe the time change automatically. Continue reading
Harold Welter presented information about the Cheryl Lyn Welter Charitable Foundation to the West Central School Board on Thursday night. Superintendent Don Street said the board members were happy to help raise funds to help underprivileged students.
“We appreciate Harold coming to our school board meeting and presenting on the tax exempt charitable foundation for the purpose of providing grants to help teachers and others involved with local school children to provide small things that underprivileged students may not be able to afford,” said Street. “We appreciate Harold sharing that and making West Central a part of that.” Continue reading
A Trail Creek man suspected of aggravated battery turned himself into police on Friday, Nov. 3.
According to the Trail Creek Police Department, Gordon R. Gardner threw a bottle of alcohol at a female patron while he was a bartender at Decoy’s Neighborhood Bar and Grill in Trail Creek. The alleged incident that left the woman injured happened at 2:20 a.m. CT on Sunday, Oct. 29. Continue reading
The time for Culver’s local Stellarbration event has been amended to accommodate a change in Lt. Governor Suzanne Crouch’s schedule.
Culver was named the Division II Stellar Community by Lt. Governor Crouch on Wednesday, Oct. 18. The state Stellarbration was held the following week while the Town of Culver scheduled the local event for Nov. 8. The start time for the event has been moved to 4:30 p.m. ET. Continue reading
The Indiana State Police Lowell Post is hosting a local fundraiser to purchase additional Automatic External Defibrillators (AED) for patrol cars at the Lowell Post. Each post in the state is hosting a fundraiser toward the same goal.
The 5K Family Fun Run is set for Nov. 10 at 8 a.m. CT at the Indiana Dunes National Lake Shore on State Road 49. For more information, call the Lowell Post at 1-800-552-8917. If you do not want to participate in the event, but would like to donate toward the effort, visit this donation link. Continue reading
Two offenders were sentenced in Starke Circuit Court Wednesday morning on battery charges in two separate cases.
Scott Tharpe, 35, of Plymouth, pleaded guilty in a plea agreement with the state to a felony charge of battery of a person less than the age of 14. Tharpe admitted to Judge Kim Hall that on July 12, 2016, at a residence in Knox he threw his nephew on the ground and pushed his face in the dirt. He also pleaded guilty in a plea agreement with the state to a misdemeanor charge of resisting law enforcement. Tharpe admitted to resisting arrest from Officer Clint Norem in the same incident. Continue reading
